Her active tenure spanned from 2013 until her retirement in 2023 during which she offered commitment, service, and leadership. Below are the highlights of her Denton County Master Gardener (DCMGA) contributions.
Georgiana spent her first two years working on many DCMGA projects and events stating she wanted to “experience it all.” Experience she did with her diverse project work ranging from large annual public events to large and small service projects. She also got involved with the Speakers Bureau and the Help Desk. She discovered her love for native and adapted flowers and in 2015 achieved the Texas Master Gardener Advanced Training Certification for Texas Superstars. With that achievement in hand, she began a long span of public education speaking through the Speakers Bureau, Ask a Master Gardener, Fall Garden Fest, and Gardenscapers’ Design Your Yard classes. Her talent was truly evident at sites such as the Plant Sale where community members would gather around her to hear her talk about Texas Superstars, native plants, and Fire Wise design.
While continuing public education activities, in 2015, Georgiana became heavily involved in DCMGA’s annual Garden Tour where she served on the Selection and Outreach Committees, led ticket sales, and participated in weekly work days working with Interns offering practical hands-on experience related to their Intern classes. Her Advanced Master Gardener certification was also useful for the Garden Tour homes sharing her design skills and knowledge of plants for homeowners to implement. Her work at the Denton Historical Gardens also allowed her to utilize her Gardenscapers design skills with her Texas Superstar knowledge both in planning the gardens and educating the public who toured the gardens daily.
In 2017, Georgiana continued her leadership by taking a position on the Fire Wise Planning Committee, maintaining her committee on the Garden Tour, and taking on a role for the Board Nominating Committee as well. In 2021 she was elected Vice President of Outreach for the DCMGA Board of Directors. Contacts made during her years in public speaking were quite useful in expanding DCMGA’s educational reach into Denton County.
Towards the end of 2022, Georgiana’s health declined with a chronic health condition which caused her to retire in 2023. Her impact was and is still felt through DCMGA. Her willingness to travel anywhere in the County, no matter how far or how small the group was motivated fellow Master Gardeners who now carry her torch of public horticultural training throughout the County.
Georgiana’s spirit, skills, and commitment to mission remained strong and alive throughout her tenure. Her tenacity to serve through sometimes difficult health issues was inspiring and her calm yet determined leadership helped pave new roads of outreach and education within Denton County and beyond.